Confucian Analect, Confucius, 500 B.C., Part 1
The Master "Is it not pleasant
to learn with a constant perseverance
and application?
"Is it not delightful to have friends
coming from distant quarters?
"Is he not a man of complete virtue, who
feels no discomposure though men may
take no note of him?"
The philosopher Yu said, "They are few
who, being filial and fraternal, are
fond of offending against their
superiors. There have been none, who,
not liking to offend against their
superiors, have been fond of stirring up
confusion.
"The superior man bends his attention to
what is radical. That being established,
all practical courses naturally grow up.
Filial piety and fraternal
submission,-are they not the root of all
benevolent actions?"
The Master said, "Fine words and an
insinuating appearance are seldom
associated with true virtue."
The philosopher Tsang said, "I daily
examine myself on three points:-whether,
in transacting business for others, I
may have been not faithful;-whether, in
intercourse with friends, I may have
been not sincere;-whether I may have not
mastered and practiced the instructions
of my teacher."
The Master said, "To rule a country of a
thousand chariots, there must be
reverent attention to business, and
sincerity; economy in expenditure, and
love for men; and the employment of the
people at the proper seasons."
The Master said, "A youth, when at home,
should be filial, and, abroad,
respectful to his elders. He should be
earnest and truthful. He should overflow
in love to all, and cultivate the
friendship of the good. When he has time
and opportunity, after the performance
of these things, he should employ them
in polite studies."
Tsze-hsia said, "If a man withdraws his
mind from the love of beauty, and
applies it as sincerely to the love of
the virtuous; if, in serving his
parents, he can exert his utmost
strength; if, in serving his prince, he
can devote his life; if, in his
intercourse with his friends, his words
are sincere:-although men say that he
has not learned, I will certainly say
that he has.
The Master said, "If the scholar be not
grave, he will not call forth any
veneration, and his learning will not be
solid.
"Hold faithfulness and sincerity as
first principles.
"Have no friends not equal to yourself.
"When you have faults, do not fear to
abandon them."
The philosopher Tsang said, "Let there
be a careful attention to perform the
funeral rites to parents, and let them
be followed when long gone with the
ceremonies of sacrifice;-then the virtue
of the people will resume its proper
excellence."
Tsze-ch'in asked Tsze-kung saying, "When
our master comes to any country, he does
not fail to learn all about its
government. Does he ask his information?
or is it given to him?"
Tsze-kung said, "Our master is benign,
upright, courteous, temperate, and
complaisant and thus he gets his
information. The master's mode of asking
information,-is it not different from
that of other men?"
The Master said, "While a man's father
is alive, look at the bent of his will;
when his father is dead, look at his
conduct. If for three years he does not
alter from the way of his father, he may
be called filial."
The philosopher Yu said, "In practicing
the rules of propriety, a natural ease
is to be prized. In the ways prescribed
by the ancient kings, this is the
excellent quality, and in things small
and great we follow them.
"Yet it is not to be observed in all
cases. If one, knowing how such ease
should be prized, manifests it, without
regulating it by the rules of propriety,
this likewise is not to be done."
The philosopher Yu said, "When
agreements are made according to what is
right, what is spoken can be made good.
When respect is shown according to what
is proper, one keeps far from shame and
disgrace. When the parties upon whom a
man leans are proper persons to be
intimate with, he can make them his
guides and masters."
The Master said, "He who aims to be a
man of complete virtue in his food does
not seek to gratify his appetite, nor in
his dwelling place does he seek the
appliances of ease; he is earnest in
what he is doing, and careful in his
speech; he frequents the company of men
of principle that he may be
rectified:-such a person may be said
indeed to love to learn."
Tsze-kung said, "What do you pronounce
concerning the poor man who yet does not
flatter, and the rich man who is not
proud?" The Master replied, "They will
do; but they are not equal to him, who,
though poor, is yet cheerful, and to
him, who, though rich, loves the rules
of propriety."
Tsze-kung replied, "It is said in the
Book of Poetry, 'As you cut and then
file, as you carve and then polish.'-The
meaning is the same, I apprehend, as
that which you have just expressed."
The Master said, "With one like Ts'ze, I
can begin to talk about the odes. I told
him one point, and he knew its proper
sequence."
The Master said, "I will not be
afflicted at men's not knowing me; I
will be afflicted that I do not know
men."
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